Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan warmly welcomed President Maithripala Sirisena, Mrs Jayanthi Sirisena and the Sri Lankan delegation during the official welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 26, 2015. The President is on a four-day official visit to the People’s Republic of China.

The welcome ceremony followed with a guard-of-honour for President Maithripala.

Parents and teachers should direct children to become outstanding citizens with thoughtful minds and sensitive hearts who will contribute to the nation's development, Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilake said.

The minister made this observation at 'Abiyogaya 2015' the award ceremony of Gampaha Bandaranayake College organised by the college Media Unit at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Tuesday.

The Frontline Magazine has not been banned in Sri Lanka, but the Customs Department has stopped the release of bulk of the latest issue of the Magazine, Media Ministry Secretary Karunarathna Paranaithana told Daily News yesterday.

The Secretary said the Customs officials have done so due to a contempt material found in the magazine that would be detrimental to the national security.

Welcoming a group of Indian journalists, Media Minister Gayantha Karunathillake said he would extend his good offices to promote mutual relations between media personnel from India and Sri Lanka.

Six media members of Indian Media Journalists’ Association (IMJU) called on the Media Minister at the office of the Chief Government Whip in Parliament yesterday. The group was headed by IMJU president Bala Bhashkara Rao and secretary Arun Sharma. They held discussions with the minister and ministry secretary Karunarathna Paranavithana.

In a message to mark the Chinese New Year, President Maithripala Sirisena noted the importance of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Sri Lanka last September and affirmed that ties between Sri Lanka and China will continue steadfastly during his tenure.

Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka Â invited Â journalist fraternity to do their sacred job without any fear or favour. No journalist will be harassed or forced hereafter Â to slavishly work Â for those in power Â and hence they could Â perform their duties Â with dignity and decorum.

Â Media Minister and Government Chief Whip Gayantha Karunatilake said he would request journalists who fled the country in the past to save their lives from the oppression of the previous regime, to return home and engage in media activities by using their pen freely as before. He would guarantee that the media would not be harassed or oppressed under the tenure of the present government as before.

His Holiness Pope Francis was welcomed on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday by President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime MinisterÂ Ranil Wickremesinghe, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, First Lady Jayanthi Pushpakumari and other delegates with the PresidentialÂ entourage.Â Pictures by President’s Media Unit and Sudath Nishantha.

Right to Information as a fundamental right

Wednesday, 11 March 2015 09:36

Â The government has planned to incorporate the Right to Information into theConstitution to give it a legal recognition as a fundamental right.According to Mediaand Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunaratne Paranavithana,the government is planning to add a clause to Article 14 of the Constitution which ensures freedom of speech,assembly and movement as a fundamental right. “Article 14 of the Constitutionwill be amended to recognizethe right to information as a fundamental right,” he said.

Mass Media and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gayantha Karunatilleke said he is dedicated to build the background necessary for provincial correspondents to perform their noble profession in dignity in providing news about developments taking place in the provinces to the news-hungry public in an impartial manner. The minister said this addressing representatives of provincial correspondents from 25 districts and their state media chiefs at a discussion held at his ministry on February 23.

The US had expressed its interest to invite President Maithripala Sirisena for an official visit to the US.

This was disclosed by Cabinet spokesman Minister Rajitha Senarathne at the weekly press briefing.

Sequel to the discussions held by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera with State Department officials, Minister Senarathne indicated the likelihood of the President undertaking an official visit to the US during the latter part of this year.

War was ended physically, now time for genuine co-existance Will connect North South in true national reconciliation Recalls contributions of all patriots As pledged, and endorsed by the election victory on January 8, the government will effect a radical change in the political, economic, social and cultural landscape in order to impart the people the real sense of good governance, President Maithripala Sirisena said.

The appointment of the new Chief Justice and strengthening of democratic credentials is a matter of pride as much for the Commonwealth as it is for Sri Lanka., said Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, on conclusion of his official visit to Sri Lanka.

Former Dinamina Editor Saman Wagaarachchi, a veteran media personality has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL). He was one of the founder journalists of the Lakbima newspaper, and also a Deputy Editor and subsequently as Chief Editor of the same newspaper. He had also served as the Chief Editor of the Irida Peramuna weekely.

Media and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunaratne Paranavithana in a press release issued yesterday stated the ministry has drawn its attention to various news items published through various media institutions on the removal of Bandula Padmakumara from the Mulpituwa morning news review programme he presented over the Swarnavahini television channel.

Some of the news items published through these media programmes indirectly gave the impression that this has been done on an order from the top and engineered by the government.